What would you do with a $675+ million PowerBall jackpot?
(besides hookers and blow)
There is the obvious, such as pay off all my bills, move to a better house, etc. But if we're talking fun:
-Buy a minivan and bankroll a trip around the country with 6 of my friends.
-Give about $2 million to my dad and tell him to have a nice life.
-Donate a fair amount to Faithful to Felines cat shelter.
-Donate to NMU Hockey and the NMU Psychology Department.
-Donate to Team in Training-Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
-Run marathons and other races every weekend.
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I want to buy every ticket to a MNF game...then invite 50~ people. Yes, I'm serious.
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What would you do with a $675+ million PowerBall jackpot?
First, pay about $350 million in taxes.....
Set up $5 million trust funds for every niece and nephew, fund business startups for each kid, remodel the house, hire a housecleaning service, a lawn service, and someone to shovel snow, then set up a charitable foundation and devote my life to private-sector social welfare goals.
I would give away all except about 50 million to charity, to get it to a more reasonable sum that I can spend. Preferably local charities where it can make a real difference, or overlooked national charities that spend their money wisely, but need more attention. I'd like help public education, so my alma maters would probably benefit, as well as local schools. The Alpha 1 Foundation and organ donation awareness programs would get a big chunk as well.
After that, with my 50 million, I'd invest a bit to make sure I have money in the future. I'd buy houses for my mom, aunt and uncle, brother, cousin, and of course, myself (I've had it picked out for years - I even went to an estate sale there once). Needless to say, my kitchen would be fantastic and perfect in every possible way. I'd give some to family members who need assistance, and my mom would have everything she wanted (although she would never ask). I don't think I'd take many luxurious vacations, but probably some cooking classes in France or something. Brewers season tickets for my mom and I. College for my nephew, if he wants, and vet school for my cousin. A second home in a cool climate by the ocean. Weekly massages. Regular baking classes at King Arthur Flour and Zingerman's.
The problem is, I assume I'd still be me, and I'm not going to be comfortable being the center of attention and having people wait on me all the time. No high-falutin' environments or fancy restaurants. So a lot of stuff I already do... just more of it.
I've actually thought this out a disturbing amount, having seen all the stories about lottery winners that end up broke in a couple years. Or dead.
First, lawyer. Pronto. The most reputable name I can find with a specialization in trusts and estates. Lawyer can help me out with a tax specialist and an investment advisor as necessary. Maybe hire another lawyer to make sure the preceding aren't boning me over.
Form an LLC or blind trust to claim the ticket on my behalf as anonymously as I can. Lump sum. Get Uncle Sam's share out of the way.
20% goes to my family in a series of blind trusts. My lawyer is to tell them in no uncertain terms this is all the money they're getting. If they somehow manage to blow it all in Vegas and my fifth cousin thrice removed suddenly appears and simply MUST have a million smackers to fulfill his life dream of opening a chain of Elvis themed drive-thru spatula outlets, too bad. The blind trusts will help with this too so the money is spent properly and I don't create an army of Kardashians out of my family.
20% goes to US Treasury bills. This is to protect me from myself. If I lose everything else, these things aren't going anywhere.
5% goes to Swiss government bonds. This is in case we elect Katy Perry president or something and the US economy suffers a catastrophic collapse. Honestly, if it hits the point where farking Switzerland is welching on their debt money doesn't mean much of anything around the globe any more anyway.
40% goes to a plain old boring S&P 500 index fund. I should be able to live comfortably off the interest.
The rest goes to me, and I vanish. Off the grid completely on a beach somewhere people can't pronounce.
OK, OK, OK, ... after letting the appropriate family member(s) know in person ...
First call: (701) 282-3249
Second call: (701) 255-1196
Those two calls would set up "The Sicatoka Trust". My goal in setting up the trust would be to maximize the lottery proceeds into the trust (i.e. minimize the amount paid in taxes).
The Sicatoka Trust would give money exclusively to (as I deem) deserving, not-for-profit organizations.
(EDIT: I just saw TwitchBoy's post. Funny how folks with technical/engineering backgrounds seem want to call lawyers and financial advisers first. )
Last edited by The Sicatoka; 01-08-2016, 09:00 AM.
The preceding post may contain trigger words and is not safe-space approved. <-- Virtue signaling.
I want to buy every ticket to a MNF game...then invite 50~ people. Yes, I'm serious.
There is a commercial being played by the NYS Lottery (maybe it's used by other states as well) where they show ridiculous things rich people do. Then, the punch line is, "You know you would make a better rich person."
You would be in one of those commercials. LOL
As for me, there are five key things to do before even claiming the prize:
1) Put the winning ticket in a safe deposit box.
2) Get a lawyer.
3) Have the lawyer rent me a place in their firm's name without any trace back to me. Move into this place temporarily.
4) Install a full fledged security system on my current house.
5) Cancel all, and I mean ALL, current phone numbers anyone in my immediate family has -- landlines and cell phones. Buy a burner phone for temporary communications.
Then, claim your prize.
Russell Jaslow
[Former] SUNYAC Correspondent
U.S. College Hockey Online
I'd do...
get LASIK.
get my nose fixed from after breaking it in 2005 and having a nasal passage 75% collapse.
build an arena with 2 or 3 rinks.
a lot of traveling.
setup an investment account where the income goes out to charities of my choosing.
2 chicks at the same time.
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." George Orwell, 1984
"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its Black Gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the Great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust, the very air you breathe is a poisonous fume." Boromir
"Good news! We have a delivery." Professor Farnsworth
I've actually thought this out a disturbing amount, having seen all the stories about lottery winners that end up broke in a couple years. Or dead.
First, lawyer. Pronto. The most reputable name I can find with a specialization in trusts and estates. Lawyer can help me out with a tax specialist and an investment advisor as necessary. Maybe hire another lawyer to make sure the preceding aren't boning me over.
Form an LLC or blind trust to claim the ticket on my behalf as anonymously as I can. Lump sum. Get Uncle Sam's share out of the way.
20% goes to my family in a series of blind trusts. My lawyer is to tell them in no uncertain terms this is all the money they're getting. If they somehow manage to blow it all in Vegas and my fifth cousin thrice removed suddenly appears and simply MUST have a million smackers to fulfill his life dream of opening a chain of Elvis themed drive-thru spatula outlets, too bad. The blind trusts will help with this too so the money is spent properly and I don't create an army of Kardashians out of my family.
20% goes to US Treasury bills. This is to protect me from myself. If I lose everything else, these things aren't going anywhere.
5% goes to Swiss bank notes. This is in case we elect Katy Perry president or something and the US economy suffers a catastrophic collapse. Honestly, if it hits this point money doesn't mean much of anything around the globe any more anyway.
40% goes to a plain old boring S&P 500 index fund. I should be able to live comfortably off the interest.
The rest goes to me, and I vanish. Off the grid completely on a beach somewhere people can't pronounce.
I, too, have gone through this extensive thought process many times, even though I hardly ever, and I mean hardly ever buy a lottery ticket. LOL
The only differences are 1) in NYS, you have no choice but to be public when claiming your prize and must attend the press conference and 2) I wouldn't disappear. Not my style.
I would set up a few extra trust funds (besides for family members and charity work like most people mention and pretty much exactly the way you would set them up) that would go towards helping others in the type of sports I like. In other words, help others achieve their dreams in hockey (such as scholarships for camps and money for teams to attend top flight tournaments) and auto racing (sponsorship money for up and coming drivers).
As for fun, the first thing I would plan is a full fledged VIP trip (with a group of my close racing friends) to the Monaco Grand Prix, maybe even rent one of those yachts in the harbor (with girls of course!). The second thing I would plan is buy a suite at the upcoming Frozen Four and invite all my close hockey friends.
Russell Jaslow
[Former] SUNYAC Correspondent
U.S. College Hockey Online
Obviously take care of family, college funds for nephews, trust fund for my son, etc. I would travel. A lot. I have no desire for a larger home, or fancy car, although I probably would buy a cabin in the mountains. My day job would be working at my charitable trust. I'd probably hire a full time personal trainer. I'd climb some mountains in Alaska, the Himalayas, and Antarctica.
As for me, there are five key things to do before even claiming the prize:
1) Put the winning ticket in a safe deposit box.
2) Get a lawyer.
3) Have the lawyer rent me a place in their firm's name without any trace back to me. Move into this place temporarily.
4) Install a full fledged security system on my current house.
5) Cancel all, and I mean ALL, current phone numbers anyone in my immediate family has -- landlines and cell phones. Buy a burner phone for temporary communications.
Then, claim your prize.
Ha, I've thought about this part too. Didn't occur to me to have my family change their numbers, though, but especially any that share my last name. Too bad I don't have a common last name - that'd be easier.
You don't want to wait TOO long before claiming, though, as the attention would mount the longer people had to wait.
What would be ideal is remaining anonymous, but that's not possible in most states (I think Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina allow it). But can I claim in one of those states and remain anonymous, or do I have to claim at MY state's lottery office?
Also, how do you quit your job and still remain relatively anonymous? Obviously if I quit the day after the PowerBall drawing, people at work are going to figure it out, but I couldn't deal with going to work when I know I'm not required.
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